The reason there isn’t an Apple store in Pearlridge is the same reason why you won’t find Whole Foods in Pearlridge, wrong demographic. Whole Foods is moving into Kahala Mall and Ward (essentially the same set of blocks that Ala Moana occupies.

The Waikiki store makes about as much sense to me as the Apple store in “The Domain” in Austin. Its as much about creating the illusion of success and luxury as anything else.

I, for one, would be looking forward to it, since it’s going to be where i work. If I have 1 hour of “downtime” between airport shuttle runs, I might go over there and play with an iPhone, or take my laptop in for repairs… If I was a tourist, while my wife (well, when I get married) was shopping for clothes and what not, I could just geek out for a little at the Apple Store. I think that many locals might not go to the RHSC site but enough visitors and locals working in Waikiki will for sure become frequent visitors.

The reason the Apple store in RHSC can’t really be compared to the one in Ala Moana is mainly the location of the Ala Moana store- it’s about the same size as most boutique stores in the shopping center, and sort of tucked away on the Diamond head side. I think it serves as a great place for locals to get Apple Care, but tourists are probably not going to see it as visibly as this RHSC store. The Kahala location sound sort of odd, due to the lower population count in the east side and that Kahala mall isnt “iconic” or has huge passenger traffic, but I guess most people buying Apple in hawaii live on that side and I bet Kahala mall gave Apple a good deal on the rent in exchange to place a store there.

I hope Apple looks to addding a store in Kapolei Commons soon because that’s the next area of grownth on this Island and where more and more of those who live on O’ahu will go to shop as soon as its done.

About Parking, btw, that’s totally true, and i hope that one day soon someone will come up with a decently-priced parking garage for us locals to park in… right now, parking in Waikiki is horrible, and it’s hurting it more than helping.

Anyway, most of the millions of tourist at waikiki do walk during vacation, I bet most will go into the store and be exposed to the products they offer. It’s only 5 to 25 min. walking time from most of the hotels in Waikiki. I bet the design alone will lure people to come in like that in Manhattan or other parts of the world. Apple flagship stores are like works of art…their beautiful.

I’m pretty sure the free internet access will be a big hit to tourist and resedents alike.

I also agree with the above comments of Tourist in the Asian market buying apples out in Hawaii because it is actually cheaper. Sound like a plan. I think I may just want to buy my next Apple from its new Location.

Blessings to y’all and don’t forget…..IGNITE a REVOLUTION!

The Ala Moana location is well placed but it also feels very small- however it is very functional as well. But “expsoure” is non-existent at the Ala Moana location- the store sits recessed in the Macy’s corner. You pretty much go there if you already want to.

The Kahala location has definitley boggled my mind too. It’s small and in an area that’s not very populated. Maybe the rent was cheap? Weird…

If Apple is going to add a store to Waikiki at the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center, and if the store is 2-storys and fronting Kalakaua, I agree that the store will mainly be a marketing tool / exposure point. Millions of tourists every year pass by on taxis, tour busses, and by foot through Kalakaua and having such an imposing Apple Store is definitley a presence. Also, many Japanese might buy iPods in the US instead of back home because it’s so much cheaper- heck, many Japanese / Asians come to Hawaii just to buy brand name things here because its cheaper than back home!

Looking forward to the Apple store at the RHSC. I think once Kapolei has a decent shopping center, Apple will also add one there too- right now I dont see any of the west side shopping centers fitting Apple’s business plan.

I wish they’d put a store in Pearl Ridge–where people go to shop without being mobbed by tourists!

Right now I usually go all the way from the Pearl Harbor area to the Kahala Mall to avoid the Ala Moana nightmare. It would be so nice to be able to drive 5 minutes Ewa instead…but I’m already a customer. I guess I’m not exactly the target.

even local people with lots of money dont really go to waikiki as often as you think. waikiki is the ultimate tourist trap, always crowded, often marked-up shopping, rookie-cop central, parking is a nightmare, and just gets pretty boring real fast for us locals.

ala moana caters to everyone, and has a better mix of stores. basially whatever GGP (general growth properties), owner of ala moana and ward shopping malls, have an exclusive mix of stores and boutiques. a lot of tourist and locals go there instead.

the kahala mall location of the apple store is more mellow, less foot traffic, and is in the neighborhood of multimillion dollar houses, beach front properties, etc. locals in that region flock that area, but still go over to ala moana.

ala moana is the hub of shopping. at the rate they’re expanding, including the 3rd phase which will add a nordstrom, and i believe 30 new shops,ala moana is still gonna have a big impact on waikiki.

but yeah, i think apple in waikiki is more of visual reminder. catering the residents of waikiki, occassional locals, and all tourists too lazy to take the bus, trolley, drive, taxi, cab to travel a short 5-10 minute ride to ala moana.

As a frequent visitor to Japan, the flagship stores in Ginza (Tokyo) and Shinsaibashi (Osaka) were always packed when I visited them and you would always see plenty of foreign tourists included in the mix. The Waikiki location would primarily be targeting an international demographic but will still serve the local community since it is still the destination for things like parties, weddings, etc not to mention residents living in condos in the area. We occasionally eat at restaurants in Waikiki and with the full parking validation (good for 2-3 hours at some places), go walking around. As a matter of fact, if you eat or shop at the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center (which is undergoing an complete renovation), you can get an extension on the parking validation (ask for details and they’ll tell you where to go).

To Cedric Brown, the shopping center resides along Waikiki’s main eastward avenue, Kalakaua Avenue and fronts both the Sheraton Waikiki and Sheraton Royal Hawaiian hotels. If you use this Google Maps link, the shopping center is to the left of the B:

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=l&hl=en&geocode=&q=royal+hawaiian+shopping+center&near=waikiki+hawaii&ie=UTF8&ll=21.278038,-157.828147&spn=0.003104,0.004399&t=k&z=18&om=1

The Sheraton Waikiki and Sheraton Moana Surfrider (which is just a short block east down Kalakaua Avenue) are two hotels used frequently by visitors from Asia. The Center Stage at the shopping center is also used by both the Pan-Pacific Festival and sometimes the Honolulu Festival for various events and performances (both festivals have a large number of participants from Japan and attract a growing number of visitors who come for each events respective parades).

Well heeled travellers stay in the resorts, which are typically on the other islands, or outside Wikiki, with only a couple of first class resorts actually on Waikiki. It is mostly cheaper hotels in Waikiki and is almost all walking traffic, not driving.

Sales are secondary to product exposure with this new store.

The Ala Moana store is only about a mile away, but serves an entirely different demographic, and is physically separated from Waikiki.